Take a look at this, Big Chief Breaks Down His Cam Swap After One Year – What Worked, What Failed & What You Should Know!
If you’re into performance tuning, you’ve probably heard the phrase: “Just throw a cam in it.” But when Big Chief from Street Outlaws decided to swap a high-performance cam into his Gen V engine, the results went far beyond just a rowdier idle. One year later, Chief revisits that major upgrade—and this brutally honest review reveals everything from power gains to broken parts. If you’re planning a cam swap yourself, this might be the most important thing you read.
✅ The Good: Power Gains & Engine Behavior
From the start, Chief noticed a massive improvement in mid-range torque. The car felt more aggressive, with faster throttle response and stronger pulls where it mattered most. This wasn’t just a minor bump—it was the kind of boost you feel in the seat.
Despite pushing the setup hard on the street and track, the camshaft itself held up beautifully. According to Chief, the engine was “more alive than ever,” giving the build that perfect blend of performance and attitude.
⚠️ The Bad: Tuning Troubles & Drivetrain Weaknesses
It wasn’t all perfect. Big Chief revealed how the swap required serious ECU recalibration. Without tuning, the motor ran lean in certain RPM ranges, stumbled off the line, and didn’t idle the way it should. It took a lot of trial and error to dial things in—something many home builders might overlook.
The added torque also exposed weak links in the drivetrain. Chief pointed out how certain parts, like axles and transmission components, began to show signs of stress. That’s the hidden cost of more power: it finds the weak spots for you.
💥 The Broken: Failures You Didn’t See Coming
One of the most important lessons? The camshaft didn’t fail—but several supporting parts did.
Over time, Chief discovered cracked valve springs and worn-out rockers—failures that only surfaced after repeated high-rpm runs. These weren’t catastrophic, but they added downtime, garage hours, and replacement costs. As he puts it, “If you’re not upgrading the valvetrain with the cam, you’re just waiting for it to bite you.”
🧠 What You Should Learn From Big Chief’s Experience
Big Chief’s one-year cam swap review is a wake-up call. Yes, you’ll get the power, the rumble, the respect. But if you’re not ready to tune, test, and reinforce everything around that cam, you might end up with broken dreams—or broken parts.
Whether you’re running a Gen V LS or any modern powertrain, don’t treat a cam swap like a bolt-on. It’s an ecosystem change. And Chief’s transparency proves why experience matters more than hype.
